What negotiations are you referring to?

And is that source a Clinton source, or an Obama source?

I'm not sure I trust Clinton sources at all.

Gee Greg, this really jives with your first post today about where the leaks that are flowing like a waterfall are coming from. You are spinning like a top. This is beyond outrageous. If obama brings on this clinton garbage, he will be screwed.

By the way greg, who's the source? It's been the same one for almost two years now. Is it her press secretary? Inquiring minds want to know.

Also, why didn't the source leak the fact that the NIE was based on lies before the iraq war? That would have been a fruitful leak, as opposed to this garbage.

You know, I was firmly behind the decision to offer SoS to Clinton. I think she's a personality large and focused enough to reclaim the foreign policy initiatives back from the Defense Department and back into State. But at this point, it's legitimate to question if the downsides of the Clintons completely outweighs any up.

So now Greg has a "source". And this source claims over and over that the Obama camp has "much if not all" of the information they need about Clinton. What does that even mean? Why are we getting all these anonymous "sources"? All they had to do was chill out, sit back, and let the process run. And they couldn't even do that.

If I was advising Obama, I'd seriously say let this one go.

I'm sick of the damn Clintons.

Multiple news outlets have reported that Hillary has not made up her mind whether to take the gig, and the source confirms this.

I can't imagine that she and Bill would have jumped through all those vetting hoops if she didn't want the job.

To be charitable, I'll interpret what you wrote as saying that your source confirmed that multiple news outlets have reported that Hillary has not made up her mind :-)

With all the leaks, I'm sure Obama will dump the wench.

Obama needs to have a sit-down talk with Sen. Clinton about these leaks - either she stops them or she takes herself out of the running. Furthermore let it be known that he will not put up with the State Department leaking like a sieve and will not think twice about replacing her if she can't keep it out of the media.

Obama's style has always been "You can disagree as passionately and ardently as you like behind closed doors and you're be listened to however once a decision is made you live by the decision and support it 100%. I can only imagine a scenario where the Clinton State Department is in disagreement with President Obama and the leak it out how "Hillary would have did this differently, but Barack wanted it this way".

Obama brought this all on himself, though he has to know what he was getting into. I mean there was no groundswell for Clinton to be in his cabinet - he could have named Richardson, Holbrooke, or Susan Rice and nobody would have given it a second thought. It's as if Obama needed to open this Clintonian Pandoras Box...

drip
drip
drip

lol

I don't understand the hedging "much if not all" the information that the Obama team wants. Why not all? aren't the withheld pieces likely to be the most important or revealing?

Greg,
I trust your instincts and practices as a journalist and am delighted that you are starting to make your mark in national political coverage. I'd be interested in hearing more about your thoughts about how how to handle a source like this when the possibility that sources are trying to spin the coverage of the SoS choice to pressure participants to offer or not offer, accept or not accept. Does your reporting just report what the source says, or is it preceded by an assessment of whether there is spin involved and reported only if you are persuaded that there is not?

Sorry, it's not about the Clintons, it's about me and my 401K and the Clintons are a global sized narcissistic distraction.

This is beginning to feel very much like the Hillary we saw in May instead of that wonderful, reasonable Hillary we saw in October. She "only" told three people--instead of none--and then drove directly to the airport and took a direct flight to Chicago. I'm pretty sure that she knows how to keep a secret better than that. Where is Lanny Davis and what is he doing? This is all beginning to have a Lanny-ish feel to it. I had hoped that the October Hillary would show up because she has so much to offer, but if it's May Hillary or nothing, then Obama's best friend ought to tell him to make use of something in Bill's vetting that could potentially be embarrassing to the presidency--at which point Hill will decide she really wants to stay in the Senate and people will calm down. I'll go along with Obama, but this is feeling way too much like the primary. Kerry seemed to hurt his chances by trying to campaign for the job via the press and Howard Dean asked reporters not to do that the other day because it would hurt any chance he might have. And here we are with all the drama and the Clinton team it rode in on. I'm thinking Hill might want to take those nice offers from Teddy Kennedy and Majority Leader Reid in the Senate.

You know, John McCain wasn't so wrong. Hillary and the Former First Dude have a lot more in common with the Palins than we want to admit.

Once again people are going ballistic over an unidentified "source" that is most likely someone simply passing on something overheard while making his/her mail rounds. Pitiful.
Since Mr. Obama has not offered the position of SoS to her, it is indeed very sensible of Sen. Clinton to await an official offer before stating her response. It could be more than a little embarassing for her should she announce her acceptance of something not yet offered and then be informed that, while she was indeed among the final few being considered, she just hadn't made the cut.
Nor would it look very good for Mr. Obama's team either, as the presumption among those not directly involved in the final decision could be, and mostly likely would if they were members of the media, that the Senator had accepted having been led to believe that the position was hers for the asking. I can see the headlines now: "Obama spurns Clinton as SoS!". And for the next four years, should Sen. Clinton disagree with the President on anything it will be solely because she wasn't made SoS. Little will be written or said about the whether such disagreement actually has any merit or not.
By announcing the choice for SoS in the manner Mr. Obama has chosen, he makes it all but impossible for any such headlines as I imagined above. Should anything turn up during the vetting process that would bar Sen. Clinton from being offered SoS there will be nothing to retract, since no offer has been made. Simpler all around and no bruised egos (and Clinton-crazed media/supporters/haters) to deal with.
At least publicly.

I think Obama ought to send the Clintons and Traitor Joe on a slow boat to some far flung spot, let the ship be captured by pirates, and refuse to pay the ransom.

Is this what waterboarding feels like?

"a source close to the negotiations tells us."

Whatever.

It's all about those loyal to the Clintons doing all they can to keep John Kerry or Bill Richardson, traitors and dead people that they are, from not getting the high-profile cabinet position.

or making them "feel" like they were 2nd choice, power play.

Shorter everyone reporting on Clinton/SoS: This story isn't unfolding as fast as we'd like in the age of instant gratification so we have to fill space with vapid speculation. Things are happening! Developing...

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

As I said earlier today, we overlook the fact that the might in the process of vetting actually find something they don't like. That might sound like I'm crapping on the Clintons but the whole point of vetting is to actually vet.

According to Gallup

79% of Democrats approve of Senator Clinton as Secretary of State.
57% of independents approve.
61% of Republicans are against it. They are joined by 12% of Democrats.
Puts all of this Maureen Dowd-type generated phony "drama" into perspective, doesn't it? The obsessed agonize over it, while President-elect Obama carries on quietly, and will decide one way or another soon. Will he go with the 79% of Democrats, or the 12%?

http://www.gallup.com/poll/112012/Most-Americans-Back-Idea-Clinton-Secretary-State.aspx

Before Hillary Clinton can become Secretary of State, the Obama administration is insisting on a number of conditions which might include:
1.Bill Clinton providing a complete list of all donors to his foundation and presidential library which he reportedly is now doing.
2. Both Bill and Hillary Clinton agreeing that no private financial dealings or other personal interactions with foreign leaders will take place unless specifically authorized by the US government.
3. Once announced as President Elect Obama’s choice for Secretary of State and before her Senate confirmation, Hillary Clinton would certainly present her vision and goals for her new job and clearly indicate her readiness to serve the US government as Secretary of State under President Obama without any conflict of interest whatsoever.
If both Bill and Hillary Clinton are truly interested in complying with whatever requirements the Obama administration considers necessary for the job, it would seem that Hillary Clinton can and will become the Secretary of State. If that is not the case she should withdraw her name from consideration.

I wanted to share this, too funny. Short read :)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andy-borowitz/obamas-use-of-complete-se_b_144642.html?view=print

People like Greg, by their breathless reporting citing "unnamed" sources are actually her chances of becoming sos.

Since I am rooting for ABC (anyone but clinton) for SOS, I say, you go, Greg.

Coleman ahead by 136 with 46% of the vote

Just announced on CNN that Hill will be announced as the person for the job after Thanksgiving. Also Sec of the Tres should be announced at the LASTEST before Wednesday.

Yawn! These drama queen moments are so boring and deja vu by now. Please tell whoever is giving you the Clinton's talking points that the public is not amused anymore. Our country is in serious trouble. The last thing we need at this time is another temper tantrum from Mrs. Clinton. And for that reason, I hope Obama does not offer her the position of secretary at the State Department. Our government has been ran by children long enough. She needs a nap or time out or an ice cream. Since you seem to be so close to Hillary, please make sure she gets her.

Get your hands ready for some wringing...this thing is happening.

I wouldn't offer it to her. Not because she isn't qualified, but because Team Clinton can't keep their mouths shut. We don't need hopeless leakers at State. It could cost the lives of lots of Americans.